Method for assembly of printing apparatus



May 3, 1960 J. H. LEGO 2, 8

METHOD FOR ASSEMBLY OF PRINTING APPARATUS Original Filed Dec. 4, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IWEIlM/f J0 H. LEGO A TIMI/E) May 3, 1960 J. H. LEGO METHOD FOR ASSEMBLY OF PRINTING APPARATUS Original Filed Dec. 4, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.4

FIG.5

May 3, 1960 J. H. LE GO METHOD FOR ASSEMBLY OF PRINTING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 OriginalFiled Dec. 4, 1958 FIG.9

FIGS

METHOD FOR ASSEMBLY OF PRINTING APPARATUS John H. Lego, Rochester, Minn., assignor to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Original application December 4, 1958, Serial No. 778,166. Divided and this application April 16, 1959, Serial No. 806,827

4 Claims. (Cl. 101-109) This invention relates to a method for assembling type bar apparatus adapted for use in printing machines and record card controlled tabulating and accounting Inachines and, more particularly, to the method for assembling type bar apparatus wherein type elements are disposed within a type element carrier and biased in a particular position with respect to the carrier.

This application is a division of the copending application of J. H. Lego, Serial No. 778,166, filed December 4, 1958.

In the past, efforts have been made to provide type bar assemblies of the kind including a plurality of type elements disposed within a type element carrier and means for biasing said type elements in a home position with respect to the type element carrier which may be assembled in a less expensive and simpler manner. In attempting to achieve these objectives, type bar assemblies have been devised wherein the individual type elements are biased in the home position by a common biasing means. While this form of construction generally re duced the cost of the biasing elements and the cost for assembling the type bars, still greater savings are achieved by the instant invention.

In the present invention, the effectiveness of operation has been preserved but the cost of the elements comprising the type bar assemblies and the method for constructing the same has been greatly reduced. The effectiveness of the operation of the type bar assemblies has been preserved by providing individual elements for biasing associated individual .type elements. However, the individual biasing elements are commonly connected in a novel manner to facilitate easier assembly of the typebars and thereby greatly reduce their cost.

While the novel arrangement of the commonly connected individual biasing elements results in a substantial reduction of cost for the typebars, still greater savings are derived through a novel method for assembling the type bars. To further enhance the value of the novel arrangement of the commonly connected individual biasing elements, a novel method for assembling the type bars has been provided wherein the individual type ele- Patented May a, 1960 bly, the common connecting strip is disconnected or severed from the individual type elements to leave the same free to be selectively moved or reciprocated relative to the type element carrier to effect a print impression.

Accordingly, a prime object of this invention is to provide an improved method for making a type bar assembly.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved method for making a type bar assembly having individual type elements biased by individual biasing elements which are commonly connected.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved method for assembling type elements into a type element carrier.

ments are molded in a manner to be properly spaced from each other and so that they will be oriented in their respective positions as occupied in the type element carrier. The individual type elements are maintained in their preoriented positions by a common connecting strip. In this manner, the type elements are capable of being inserted into the type element carrier as a unit in a single step and still occupy their proper relative positions.

With the type elements properly inserted into the type elementcarrier, the commonly connected individual biasing elements are inserted as a single unit so that the individual biasing elements become associated with the individual type elements to urge the same in the home position. After the commonly connected individual biasing elements are inserted, the cover for the type element Another object of this invention is to provide an improved method for making a type bar assembly which is relatively inexpensive.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose, by way of examples, the principle of the invention and the .best mode, which has been contemplated, of applying that principle.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the type elements mounted within the type element carrier and showing one of the type elements displaced by a plunger toward a piece of paper interposed between an inked ribbon and platen, 3

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the type bar assembly with a portion of the cover plate broken away to 6X? pose the commonly connected spring elements,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, r

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the channel member of the type element carrier for containing the type elements,

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the commonly connected spring elements,

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the type elements,

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the spaced commonly connected pre-oriented type elements ready for insertion into the type element carrier,

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of the type elements positioned within the type element carrier as a first step in the assembly of the type bar, and

Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of the spring elements positioned to bias the type elements in the home position in the type elementcarrier as a second step in the assembly of the type bar.

Referring to the drawings, the invention is illustrated, by way of example, in Fig. l with a type element carrier 20 comprising a vertical bar 21 provided with a head element 22 fixed thereto at one end thereof and with in dividual type elements 23 mounted in the head element 22.

The type element carrier 20 is adapted to be moved in a vertical direction to present any one of the individual type elements 23 at a printing position or in alignment with a selectively operable plunger 24. When the plunger 24 is actuated, it engages the aligned type element 23 to carry the same forward from a home position into contact with an inked ribbon 26 to create an impression of the face of the type element 23 upon a piece of paper 27 disposed between the ribbon 26 and a platen 28.

As the plunger 24 carries the aligned type element 23 forward, an associated spring element 29, as seen in Fig. 3, is compressed so that, upon disengagement of. the plunger 24, the type element 23 is returned or restored by the associated spring element 29 to the home position.

The head element 22 of the type element carrier20, shown in greater detail in Figs. 3 and 4, comprises "a channel member 31 wherein opposite sides 32 and 33 of the channel member 31 have slots 35 to accommodate the type elements 23 in a manner to permit the same to slide therein.

The individual type elements 23, Figs. 6 and 7, have a face portion 34 and an I-shaped body portion 36.

Flanges 37 and 33 of the I-shaped body portion 36 generally serve-to limit the degree of horizontal movement of the type elements 23 relative to the head element 22 of the type element carrier 20. A web portion 39 .of the I-shaped body portion 36 is provided with a channel 41 having sides 41a and 41b to receive the associated biasing or spring element 29.

The spring elements 29, Figs. 3, '5 and "9, are identical in shape and may be formed of resilient material such as the commercially available thermoplastic materials Lexan or Delrin: The spring elements 29 are parallel spaced from each other at an angle and commonly connected at one end 30 while free at the other end 39a.

The spring elements 29 are commonly connected at the ends 30 by a tie member 42 which may be formed integral with the spring elements 29to form a comb-shaped biasing member 43, asin Fig. 5. The individual spring elements 29 and common connecting tie member 42 are adapted to reside in the channels 41 of the associated type elements 23 positioned in the head element 22 of spring elements 29 and common connecting tie member 42 do not extend above the upper surfaces 32a and 33a of the sides 32 and 33 of the channel member 31, such an arrangement permits the use of a flat cover plate 44 to hold the spring elements 29 and common connecting tie member 42 within the channels 41 of the type elements 23. It also prevents the type elements 23; from dropping out of the slots 35 in the sides 32 and 33 of .the channel member 31. The plate 44may be secured to the channel member 31 by any suitable fastening means such as screws 46.

The channel member 31 may be closed at both ends to prevent longitudinal displacement of the common connecting tie member 42 for the spring elements 29. Alternatively, the channel member 31 may be closed at one end or the end connected to the vertical bar 21 and provided with an angular shaped plate 47 fixed to extend inwardly therefrom at the other end so as to be parallel with and lie adjacent to the spring element 29 at said other end, as in Fig. 4.

Under the arrangement of apparatus just described, each type element 23 will be individually biased ,in the home position by an associated spring element 29. With the type elements 23 disposed in the slots 35 in the sides 32 and 33 of the channel member 31, the spring elements 29, together with the common connecting tie member 42, are positioned so that the free end 30a of the springs 29 abut the side 41b of the channel 41 of the associated type element 23 and the outer edge 42a of the common connecting tie member 42 abuts the inner face 32b of the side 32 of the channel member 31. By this arrangement, the type elements 23 cannot be displaced from the head element 22 because, even though the spring elements 29 are urging the type elements 23 rearward, the flanges 37 of the type elements 23 engage the outer face 320 of the side 32 of channel member 31 to be restricted thereby from further rearward movement. In the instance when the plunger 24 carries the aligned type element 23 forward, the associated spring element 29 is compressed; however, the flange 33 of the type element 23 prevents overstressment of the associated spring '29 and the displacement of the type element 23 from the channel member 31. Upon the return of the plunger 24, the type element 23., which had been carried forward thereby, will be urged rearward to the home position .by

the associated spring element 29, which had been compressed as the type element 23 was carried forward by the plunger 24.

The type elements 23, described above, may be molded from any suitable material such as the same material that is used for molding the spring elements.

While the foregoing describes the novel structure of the type bar assembly which illustrates the present invention, the following describes a novel method for assembling the type bar.

The type elements 23 are molded in pre-oriented positions and commonly connected by a tie member 51, as shown in Fig. 7. After the individual type elements 23 are molded, they are maintained in their pre-oriented positions by the common connecting tie member 515The type elements 23, which appear in their proper relative positions, are placed as a unit 52 into the channel member 31 of the head element 22 so that the faces 34 of the type elements 23 lie outwardly from the side 32 of the channel member 31, the body portions 36 of the type elements 23 reside in the slots 35 in the sides 32 and 33 of the channel member 31 and the terminal flanges 38 of the type elements 23 and common connecting tie member 51 lie outwardly from the side 33 of said channel member 31, as in Fig.8. 7

With the type elements 23 properly positioned with respect to the head element 22 of the type element carrier 20, the spring elements 29 or biasing member 43 is placed as a unit into the channels 41 of the type elements 23 to become associated therewith and so that the free end 30a of each spring element 29 bears against the side 4112 of the channel 41 in the associated type element 23 and the connecting tie member 42 abuts against the inner face 32b of the side 32 of the channel member 31. The type elements 23 are now individually biased by the individual spring elements 29.; however, the type elements 23 are still commonly connected by the common connecting tie member 51. The cover plate 44 may now be positioned and attached to the channel member 31 of the head element 22 so that the type elements 23 and spring elements 29 are prevented from falling out of the type element carrier 20.

With the cover plate 44 properly secured to the channel member 31, the individual type elements 23 may become physically disassociated from each other by severing the common connecting tie member 51 therefrom along the line 53. The flanges 38 of the type elements 23 extend to the common connecting tie member 51; hence, when severing the type elements 23 from the common connecting tie member 51, the cut is made so as to leave a proper flange 38 for each of the type elements 23. After the type elements 23 are disconnected from the common connecting tie member 51, the type bar is completely assembled and ready for use, as shown in Fig. 1.

From the above, it is seen that a type bar assembly has been provided with a novel structure for biasing the type elements in the home position relative to the type element carrier.

Further, it is seen that the type bar assembly so described is relatively inexpensive and effective in operation.

Also, it is seen that a novel method of assembly has been provided to further reduce the cost and time of as sembling the type bar.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as 'indicaed by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

;1. A method ,for assembling a type bar which com prises: placing .a plurality of spaced commonly connected pre-oriented type elements into a type element carrier, inserting biasing means relative to said type elements and said type element carrier to urge the type elements into a predetermined position with respect to the type element carrier, and disconnecting said type elements to permit independent movement of the same relative to said type element carrier.

2. A method for constructing a type bar which comprises: molding a plurality of spaced commonly connected pre-oriented type elements, placing said spaced commonly connected pre-oriented type elements into a type element carrier, inserting biasing elements to urge said type ele ments into a predetermined position relative to said type element carrier, and disconnecting said commonly con nected type elements so as to make the same independent of each other.

3. A method for constructing a type bar which comprises: molding a plurality of spaced commonly connected pre-oriented type elements, molding a plurality of spaced angularly disposed biasing elements commonly connected at one end and free at the other, placing said spaced commonly connected pre-oriented type elements into a type element carrier, inserting said plurality of spaced angularly disposed biasing elements relative to said type elements and said type element carrier to urge said type elements into a predetermined position relative to said type element carrier, and disconnecting said commonly connected type elements to permit independent movement of the same relative to said type element carrier.

4. A method for constructing a type bar which comprises: placing a plurality of spaced commonly connected pre-oriented type elements into a type element carrier, inserting a plurality of spaced angularly disposed biasing elements commonly connected at one end and free at the other relative to said type elements and said type element carrier to urge said type elements into a predetermined position relative to said type element carrier, and disconnecting said commonly connected type elements to permit independent movement of the same relative to said type element carrier.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

